Alternative building system to cut construction cost, time

The apathy of real estate developers and property owners to alternative building systems when delivering projects is set to become history, as a new alternative building system which significantly reduces construction cost and time by, at least, 30 percent, has being debuted in the country.
Known as Sprung Alternative Building, it is a concept developed by a Canadian firm seen as a new high performance building solution specially designed for commercial projects.
This is not only prominent for its ability to meet strict budgets and even stricter timelines, but more importantly, allows for total design flexibility for almost any type of building.
Exhibited in Nigeria by Pauliza Limited, the building concept was described as durable, relocatable and customizable – features that clearly allow it to outshine conventional building methods.
It has tensioned fabric structures that can be used for virtually all kinds of commercial projects, including worship and event centres.
“The reliability and durability of our performance architectural membrane fabric structures is demonstrated worldwide in countless applications ranging from oil and gas buildings to military barracks, on-site warehousing to arenas, and aircraft hangars to mining camp buildings,” Bart Ells, project supervisor at Sprung, said at a construction site in Lagos.
Ells, who is overseeing the construction of an expansive worship centre along the Lekki-Epe Expressway with Sprung’s latest technology, explained that his firm’s prefabricated building systems were developed from extremely high quality materials, and individually tested using strict performance measures.
“Our tensioned fabric structures have proven durability in some of the most extreme climates on earth, from the hottest desert to the windiest arctic tundra and coldest mountain highland,” he explained, adding that the newly constructed worship centre would withstand strong waves from Lagos sea shores.
According to him, the building solution does not only deliver projects at cheaper rates when compared to conventional building method but its unique membrane enables an amazing warranty period.
He further argued that while the conventional building method could, at best, deliver 120 feet wide by 222 feet long worship centre – the size of the on-going project – in 12months, the sprung technology would easily see off the project in a little over two months.
“The versatility and adaptability of sprung tension-fabric structures is apparent when you see the extensive variety of different building applications that exploit spring’s high-performance design and engineering,” he added.
Ells is confident that when delivered, the new project would be a major attraction in the axis owing to the architectural flamboyance it will exude, although, he explained that in terms of maintenance of the structure, the solution significantly reduces any possible maintenance cost the property owner could have incurred in the course of the building’s lifespan.